Clutch mechanism for lathe aprons



SePt- 4, 1934- c. BOUILLON CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR LTHE APRONS Filed March 2l, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l Sept.4, 1934. C BOILLON' 1,972,373

CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR LATHE APRONS v20 and be manually operated., Y'

Patented Sept. 4, 1934 CLUTCHV MEonANisM-f Constant Bouillon; Torrington; vassigliior The Hendey i Machine "Company,y Tor Conn., a corporation of Connecticut i A' Applieettp'mereh 21, 1

ringten,

932, ,serial e.- 60,0,1612' This invention relates to machine, tools and more particularly to a lathe apron actuatingmechanism for traversingthe apron and tool ,car-

Hage. l I

In the Various types of lathes ,the bedhasfslidably mounted thereon a carriage uponqwhichthe tool support or slideis mounted. .'Dependingfrom the carriage is the apron in whichis ,mounted-the g gear train which may be optionally engaged .with a. rotating lead screw for automatically traversing the apron and carriage throughxthegear train and which is commonly, referred to as thejpower x feed. The gear train may be alsopengagedwith a stationary rack and manually actuated through a hand Wheel. The transverse feed of the-to01$up :i

port `or slide is also effected lthrough-ithetapron gear train. This transverse feed maybe optionala power feed or, disengaged from the powergfeed Heretofore various deviceshave been utilized in the selective engaging and operatingrofthese feeds which include various and Well-knowntypes of clutches of the friction- ,or positive toothed g character as shown and completely described in Patents Nos. 1,832,011, 1,692,705, or,1,218,v 7,84 1n these various devicesit is necessarytoemploy a multiplicity of parts which due tor-their, arrangement and operation require the interpostioning 3o of thrust bearings in addition to the bearingsrrequired by the rotating members. 'Itfis 'alsoeS- sential, particularly in the power traversing-feeds` of the carriage, that one of thefeeds ,remainjpositively disengaged when an opposedpowergor hand 'Y feed is being used. y 5

Therefore, the object of my present inventionis to provide a latheiapron vvithla,gear t1"ain in; Vwhich the traversing feeds ofthe apron `may be optionally and positively engaged, andfwhich,

40 when one feed is engaged, the other, means ofengagement are positively inoperative.` Another obtated as a unit when engaged*ordisengaged,and

of interposing anti-friction 'thrust' bearings. @A further object of my invention is to provide-a, combination apron mechanism whereby, When ;one means of feed is being utilized, connections tothe l other feeds are disengaged in a manner that permits connecting gears of the train to remain stag tionary thus producing less friction drag which' re- .1,

rotatedtor; its opposed,position,as shown by broken Flines',y Fig-1, the internal threads of the ve objects my-invellifm fr;

sults in greater freedom 'of riage and apron.

To accomplish the abo movement of qthe carf figure; L t Fig; Sii-s au v'ing handlesf' f disengaged position; `'a llock vrod being .gagdtwithf oneofF theclutch members; l

Figif'l? fa vivl corresponding to-Fig.` `6 but '.shovvsthparts 4infa'different position; and 1 comprises.' a' noveli 'combination and-,arrangement of partshereinafterff described and more specicallypointed out in the appended claims.

lin the accompanying VdrawingsIhave shown L my invention: embodied-with eflethe apron suf-1,60

cient to enable thoseskilled'in the art to understandfthaiconstruction andoperationthereof.l

r'Referring to the drawings- "z-Eig; 1 ,is aifront elevation. of `va, lathe'apron depending from a .lathecarriage which is slidably 65 mounted'onvafla-the bed l` r Fig-1 2f i'sa 'sectionall elevation taken `along Vline g. inthe direction of arrow a,

eletetiejnteken eubsteritieiviewing in direction* of F-ig'i3 is a sectionalv Fig'. 4" is Ia sectional' felvaltionftaken along line :viewing 'inv direction of arrow va; same,

etailplanvievv one of the operati1i etnie eluteh members itheir show 'n en- Fig. s is e. detail o; the fetes ef the e1uteh has v-slKidaoly1'lmounted ythereon f the carriage' 11. The 'carriagall liasslidablymountedrther'eon the f'c'ross-'slide'-y andtool?"4 support-12. Secured to the carriefgell'A anddepen'ding therefrom is the front pla-te -ofth'e apron 13. The yapron is provided with .90 --a backplate 13a Which, when assembled'with the 'front plata? forms* 'substantially a lU-shaped` ject in my invention isto providej'aA clutch Operat- Text-end@ mm-1gb sultabl'e'be'armgs m the apron' ing mechamsmA that maybe-,assembled andffro- .lm?.ldablymoupted. in Suitable, bearings in the whereb I em ermitted te eliminate the neces-sit ,1?`1f011, Sad ha1f.;,nus Fm? 'Pio-ded Wm? 591mb.

45 y p y ipeejeetiensie, 16a. ,which are engaged by the-Cami 10 The 'usual internallyjthreaded half nuts 15, 15a

' 11T/secured to theinner lend of a stud 18 rotatably mounted in a suitablebearing in the apron. Secured ito theouter endof the stud 18 is the operatinglever .19'.yuAs illustrated,` the half nuts 105 15,-- 15a and-operatinglever 19 are -in their. open 'and Vdisengagedposition. `V When the lever 19 is nuts; f1-5,;15-engage with the rotating lead screwu 110 14, thus traversing the carriage and apron in direct relation to the lead screw as is well known.

A worm 20 is mounted on the lead screw, said worm being provided with a key 20a which engagesr with a continuous key-way extending lengthwise of the lead screw. Thisvcauses the worm 20 to berotatedwith ythe lead screwl, the worm being restrained, in a suitabe manner, against longitudinal movement.

The worm 20 meshes with a suitable gear 2l rotatably mounted on a sleeve 22. The front portion of said sleeve iswrotatably supported in the bearing 13b of the apron, the end' ef' said sleeve extending into .the .bore of the hub portion 23a of a clutch member 23. sleeve 22 has, in this instance, a pinion 24 formed in tegral therewith, said pinion 24 forming a stop shoulder for a washer 25, rotatablymountedon said sleeve 22, which provides a bearing surfpoe for one end of the gear hub 21a. The opposed end of said'gear hub 21a basins. bearing. a. rwasherZ'rnounted .on the sleeverzlh Thismsher 26 is prcvidedwith a notch .26a adaptedA toxef ceive the end: oit a key 22awhich is. oured in r -`outer .endl of the sleeve-22.r

the `sleeve 22.1 A hand wheel at)y is mowed to the The gear 21' is provided with a.- recessedv portion adapted to receive and have secured therein, the clutch member 217- whch is adapted to engaged by the clutchmember 23.

The hub 23a of the clutdrmembex 2311:"rotatably -mountedin a suitable bearing of the `pron backgplatelaa- Said hub 23a is slidaiby keyed,

by means of the key 22a, to the sleeve 22. Secured to the outer,` endjof said hubfztiuA is s. cap 28I which i isl .adapted to retain lthe threaded end' 29a, of an operating rod 29 which extends throtlh the bore f `ofthe sleeve 22. Said operating rod- 29 is; pro-v lvided with a reduced portionb. A compression spring 31 encircles said reduced portion 29h und A bears at oneend; against. a ishouiderfot, the rodV 29, the opposed end of said spritz bavinzits bearing against a cap -306 rsecured to the .hand

wheelhub a. The outer end of they reduced portion 29h, of the-.rod 29, has adiustably se- The hub 230i of the clutch member 23 is provided with an` annular recess 23h `whichv is. adapt- "ed torreceive theend of a stop rod 34 when theV .clutch memberis in Vits disengaged position, see

' f Figs. 2 and k6. Saidrod-34 isl slidably' mounted insuitable' bearings inthe apron. The Opped end. of said rod 34 engages `with a depending f angular cam arm 15b of thenut 15. A compresf sion spring 35 encirclesthe rod 34, said vspring having its bearing, at one end, against a, cross member of-,the apron, the opposed end ol said spring bearing againstan adjustable collar 36 securedlon therod 34. This spring 35 normallyr `forces Vthe rodv 34 toV the right and retains` it in engagement with the depending arm 155- When `,thethalfnuts 15, l15a are in their open position, y see Fig. 1,. the rod 34 is in its extreme` position to the rightY and retracted from engagement with the' annular recess 23h of the clutch hub 23a, see

"Fig, 7. ,When the stop rod 34 isY in its retracted position, as shown at Fig. 7, the lever 33 can be moved to its operative position, as shown by rbroken lines, Fig. 2, thecam ends 33a of the lever engaging the cap 30h and through the rod 29 cured to thegear 21 which is in mesh with. the

mounted in suitable bearings in the apron. The

rotating lead screw 14. 'I'his means of traversing the apron and carriage can be utilized only when the half nuts 15, 15a are in their open and inoperative position. When the half nuts are closed the rod 34 is forced, by the depending earn arm 15b, to the left and into engagement with the recess 23h of thefclutchzmember 23 and .hub y'74 lus formed, in thisr instance, integral therewith, a pinion 39 adapted to be engaged with the rack 40 secured to the lathe bed 10.

Smal to the outer endof the stud 38 is a lever 41 having a hub portion 41a with a bore 95 tof 'receive a lock pin 42. fSaid lock pin is retmed lmits projecting position,` to engage 'the oppsttelydisposed registering holes 13c,13d, by means of a compression spring 43. The outer end le!! said' took pin .is provided with a pull-knob.'Y 100 44 means of which thel'ockpin maybe. disengaged and t'he lever 41 rotated toits'yopposed .As the lever' 411- is moved.. to itsopposed positixm, as shown by broken lines, Fig.;` 4,' therotation of the eccentricy portion 38a oft-hestudlog, 38 cause the pinion 391 to be movediout of :engagement with the 'rack 40 thus disengaging the hand wheel means o: traversing theicarriage i Thecanflage 11 .has mounted thereintheusuarm cross slide voperating screw 45, said screw having in outer end thereofA an operating handle i! by which thescrew 45ris rotatedy to move the cro'slde 12.l Secured tothe :screw 45 is a pinion 47 which meshes vwitnan interme4115 duw gel? 48. .Said gear 48 meshes withvagear l49 seeut'edfto the s1eeve`50. 'The front portion of .said sleeve-is rotatably supported in the bearing 13e-oi! the apron, the opposed end' ofv said sleeve into the bore :of the hub por-45120 tion 51461' the clutch member'v 51. :l

The worm 5211s mounted on the lead screw. '14, said womibeing provided with a key y5'2awnieh engages with o. continuous .'-keywayextending lengthwise of the leadscrew., :'Ihiscauses the 125 worm 521:0 be rotated withthe lead screw 14,:the ,worm being restrained, in a suitable manner, longitudinal x-novement/` 'IhelwormY 52 mesheswith a suitable gear'53 rotatably mounted on the sleeve 50. A friction washer 54 is intera posed between the gear' 49,` secured to th'esleeve '50, and the gear l53 rotatably'mounted on said sleeve.v 'The washer 55 'retains thegear 53positione'don the sleeve 5f). This' washer55 is provided with a notch 55a adapted to 'receive one end"y o! a key 50a which is secured in the sleeve '50.

The gear 5311sv providedwh a recessed portion adapted to receive and have secured therein, the

I clutch member 56 which' is adaptedto be engaged by the clutch'm'em'ber 51. The hub 51aof1ther140 clutch member 511sy rotatably mounted in alsuitable bearing of the' apron back 'plate 130:.` Said Vhub 51a is slidabl'y keyedby means of the rkey 50a, to the sleeve 50."'Securedtotheouter end of s'aidhub 51a is a capf57 which is adapted to 3.3.5 retain the threadedend 58am the operatingrod 581 whichextends thrcughtne'bore of the-sleeve 50. Said operating rod .58 is 'provided witha reduced portion 58h. A compressionspring 59 en- `cir-*cles am reduced portion A58h and'bears at one'. 15o

end against a shoulder of the rod 58, the opposed end of said spring having its bearing against a cap 60 secured to the end of the sleeve 50. The outer end 58b of said rod 58 is provided with an operating lever 33 as previously described. The operation of the clutch mechanism in the apron and carriage traverse rst described and the transverse slide feed are the same. The gear 21, 53 is rotated, by the lead screw 14, freely upon the sleeve 22, 50.

When the clutch members 23, v27, and 51, 53 are engaged, as shown at Fig. 3, the sleeve 22, 50, and gear 21, 53 are rotated together as a complete unit. It will be readily seen that with this novel construction I have eliminated the requirement of anti-thrust members being interposed between the members comprising thevunit and thereby simplified assembling and adjusting the unit while maintaining the desirable features of a quick, positive clutch mechanism.

Having thus described my invention it will be evident that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, therefore, I do not Wish to be limited to the specio details herein disclosed, but What I claim l. In a lathe having a tool carriage and apron; a prime mover feed shaft for said carriage and apron, means for engaging said feed shaft With said carriage and apron to'impart longitudinal movement thereto, a second means for engaging said feed shaft to impart longitudinal movement When said rst means is disengaged, said second means comprising a gear train having a rotatable sleeve With a gear normally free to rotate thereon, a clutch member secured to said gear, a co-operating clutch member slidable on said sleeve, a rod extending through saidrsleeve and connecting said slidable clutch member with means to actuate said rod to engage said clutch members to form a complete rotatable unit.v

2. In a lathe having a tool carriage and apron; a prime mover feed shaft for said carriage and apron, gear trains, for engagement with said feed shaft, to impart longitudinal and cross feeds, a rotatable sleeve embodied in said gear trains, a gear normally free to rotate on said rotatable sleeve, a clutch member secured to said freely rotatable gears, a co-operating clutch member having its bearing in said apron and slidable on said sleeve, a rod extending through said sleeve and connecting said slidable clutch member with means, comprising a snap lever, to actuate said rod to engage said clutch members to form a complete rotatable unit.

3. In a lathe having a tool carriage and apron; the combination of a prime mover feed shaft and feed rack, gear trains, for engagement with said feed shaft and rackVto impart longitudinal and cross feeds, a rotatable sleeve for said feed shaft gear trains, a gear normally free to rotate on said rotatable sleeve, a pinion secured to said sleeve, said sleeve having one of its bearings in the apron housing and its opposed bearing in a clutch member Whichis slidably secured to said sleeve and movably supported by said apron housing, a clutch member secured to said freely rotatable gear, an operating element secured to the outer end of said sleeve, an operating rod extending through said sleeve and connecting said slidable clutch member With means, comprising a snap lever, to actuate said rod to engage said clutch-members and form a complete rotatable unit; an eccentric shaft rotatably supported in said apron housing, a second sleeve rotatably supported on said shaft, a gear secured to said second sleeve and meshing with said first sleeve pinion, a second pinion integral with. said second sleeve with means for rotating said eccentric l shaft to engage and disengage said second pinion with said rack.

4. A lathe apron having gear trains for engagement Witha rotary member to impart independent longitudinal and cross feeds; means in- El dependent of said geartrains and adapted to be engaged with said rotary member'to impart a longitudinal feed; coaoting means to prevent engagement of one of said longitudinal feeds While the opposed longitudinal feed is in engagement;

rotatable sleeves embodied in said longitudinal and cross feed gear trains with gears normally free to rotate on said sleeves, clutch members secured to said'freely rotatable gears with cooperating clutch members slidable on said sleeves, a rod extending through each sleeve and connect- `ing said slidable clutch members with means to actuate said rods to independently engage said clutch members to form complete rotatable units.

' CONSTANT BOUILLON.

two 

